Spring Break Fun

Spring Break for the kids was last week. Robert took the week off work and we had some fun family time.

On Monday, we went to the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens and enjoyed the gardens and their butterfly exhibit.

On Wednesday, we traveled to see Robert's family in East Texas. We took a side trip on Thursday afternoon to Atlanta State Park; our niece Lexie joined us and the kids had a great time.

The scenery wasn't spectacular (too early in the season for everything to have greened up), but we had fun tromping through the woods anyway. One of the highlights for the kids was this metal bridge that made lots of noise when they jumped on it.

We took Dixie on the hike and she was totally freaked out by the bridge and wouldn't even cross it - Cullen ended up carrying her across:

Last week was a nice break, but as usual, I'm glad to be back in the routine!

Twelve on the Twelfth

We celebrated Kenna's twelfth birthday on Friday. She started the day with presents and breakfast in bed, and then we rushed to get everyone out the door. She asked me to bring her lunch at school. I have to admit that I was a little surprised by that - I had always done that in elementary school, but I thought she wouldn't want me to now that she's in middle school. But I guess she wasn't about to pass by an opportunity for a fast food lunch!

On Friday evening a few of her friends came over for an "Indoor Camp-Out". While the sleep-over would be indoors, we did start the party outdoors, making tye-dye t-shirts and enjoying a campfire.


They roasted hot dogs, made sandwich pizzas, and had s'mores for dessert:

I was really excited to make her cake this year. I had seen this idea in a magazine several years ago and was just waiting for an opportunity to make it. When Kenna said she wanted a camping themed party, I knew the time had come!

No indoor camp-out would be complete without a tent made from sheets, right?! Wearing their shirts, the girls posed for me in front of the tent:

Trading Dust for Must

Our Bible Study class recently finished a study based on the book by Richard Stearns, "The Hole in Our Gospel". It's a phenomenal book about poverty and what our response as christians should be. It asks the question, "What does God expect from us?" - God expects everything from His followers! In Luke 3:11, He gives one example of what that means: "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same."

One of the action points in the study suggested, "trade your dust for must" and asked this question, "What is in your attic, basement, garage, storage bin, or closet that is collecting dust when it could be collecting money for the 'must needs' of a poor person?"

So, I decided to have a garage sale to get rid of some of our "stuff" and soon the whole class was in on the idea. Several members of our class donated items and then came on the day of the sale to help out. We had a great time together and raised over $700! The money will be used for the orphanage in Peru that I visited in January with other members of our church.


I think our garage/driveway/yard looked a little like we belonged on "Sanford and Sons":

Here are a few of my precious friends who joined with me on this project:

The kids even got involved and had a lemonade stand. They sold lemonade and homemade cookies made by one our class members. They made over $35! I was amazed at the people who would haggle with us over 25 cents, but then go pay 50 cents for lemonade and a dollar for cookies - I guess there's just something about kids and a lemonade stand that people can't resist!

I'm so glad that we took the time and effort to have this sale. I still have way too much stuff in my house and there is so much more I should be doing on behalf of the poor, but it feels good to at least have taken this little step.

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Matthew 6:19-21